By Michael Lanza
Over greater than three many years of backpacking adventures all through America’s West, I’ve been lucky to discover deeply into our most cherished nationwide parks, wilderness areas, and guarded backcountry. All of them are particular. However some locations rise above the remaining, inspiring a way of awe that may encourage us to reorder our priorities and rearrange our lives—they usually have that impact on us each time we return to them. This story spotlights these particular locations within the West and lots of journeys you can soak up them.
From the Excessive Sierra to the Wind River Vary, the Cascades to the perfect of southern Utah, Glacier, the Tetons and Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon and extra, the ten locations and greater than 40 journeys described beneath comprise a checklist of five-star adventures that may preserve you busy for years. (They’ve achieved precisely that for me.)
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All of those adventures possess distinctive qualities that make them really feel extraordinary whilst you’re on the market and stick with you for a very long time afterward—and I say that from the angle of getting taken scores of backpacking journeys all around the nation for greater than 30 years, together with the ten years I spent as Northwest Editor of Backpacker magazine and even longer running this blog.
The descriptions beneath all hyperlink to tales at The Huge Exterior with many extra pictures and knowledge. (These tales require a paid subscription to The Huge Exterior to learn in full, together with my knowledgeable tips about planning every journey.)
Please share your ideas about my listing or any strategies you will have for equally awe-inspiring adventures within the feedback part on the backside of this story. I attempt to answer all feedback.
The Wind River Vary
You could possibly rely on the fingers of 1 hand—while not having almost each finger—the variety of Decrease 48 mountain ranges the place you’ll be able to hike for days beneath rows of jagged 13,000-foot peaks, passing extra of the prettiest alpine lakes you’ve ever seen than different individuals. And a type of locations is Wyoming’s Wind River Vary.
On a roughly 41-mile loop from Elkhart Park, two mates and I spent an evening in one of the awe-inspiring spots within the West, Titcomb Basin, an alpine valley at over 10,000 toes the place night alpenglow painted a granite wall of 13,000-footers above us golden. Our route crossed three 12,000-foot passes, one by way of an adventurous, off-trail route over that led into a beautiful hanging valley.
Just a few summers in the past, three companions and I made a really rugged, seven-day, 96-mile south-to-north traverse of the Wind River High Route, two-thirds of which is off-trail—one of the tough and gorgeous adventures I’ve ever beloved. I returned in late summer time 2022, when three of us backpacked a 43-mile loop in an space I had principally by no means seen earlier than and—not surprisingly—walked by means of inspiring surroundings day by day whereas encountering few different backpackers.
And most just lately, in August 2023, a pal and I hiked a four-day, figure-8 route that crossed the Continental Divide 4 instances, having fun with a five-star campsite close to a wonderful alpine lake each night time and passing by means of one of many justifiably best-known areas of the Winds, the Cirque of the Towers. Look ahead to my upcoming story about that journey.
As I’ve discovered on a number of multi-day journeys into the Winds: Being there could make you consider that these are probably the most magnificent mountains you’ve ever seen. And also you is likely to be proper about that. The Winds preserve pulling me again.
See “5 Reasons You Must Backpack the Wind River Range,” “Backpacking Through a Lonely Corner of the Wind River Range,” “Best of the Wind River Range: Backpacking to Titcomb Basin,” “A Walk in the Winds: A One-Day, 27-Mile Traverse of Wyoming’s Wind River Range,” and all stories about backpacking in the Winds at The Huge Exterior.
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The Excessive Sierra
Each time I return to discover one other space of California’s Excessive Sierra—as I did once more most just lately in August 2022, backpacking over 120 miles in nine days, totally on the John Muir Trail by means of Kings Canyon Nationwide Park and the Ansel Adams and John Muir wildernesses—I’m reminded of simply how magnificent and huge this mountain vary is.
Spanning three iconic nationwide parks—Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite—and a number of other nationwide forests and wilderness areas, with hundreds of miles of trails and alpine lakes, the Sierra presents countless alternatives for backpacking journeys of any size and sufficient adventures to fill a number of lifetimes.
My very own many backcountry travels within the Sierra have included a number of backpacking trips and dayhikes in Yosemite, the place the wonder by no means ends, even after you’ve hit all of the best-known corners; mountain climbing a 40-mile loop with my household in Sequoia, crossing passes as much as 11,630 toes and marveling over a panorama the digital camera beloved; climbing the Decrease 48’s highest peak, Mount Whitney, with my son; and thru-hiking the JMT. All of these and different journeys have given me a superb base of data in regards to the Sierra—and solely whetted my urge for food for extra.
See “The 8 Best Backpacking Trips in Yosemite” and “Heavy Lifting: Backpacking Sequoia National Park,” my tales about thru-hiking the JMT and climbing Mount Whitney, my expert e-guides to a few stellar backpacking journeys in Yosemite, plus all stories about backpacking the JMT and backpacking in the High Sierra at The Huge Exterior.
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The Cascade Vary
Stretching 700 miles from northern California by means of Oregon and Washington into southern British Columbia, the Cascade Vary—with the notable exception of Mount Rainier—doesn’t attain the heights of the Sierra. However the vary is almost twice as lengthy and harbors among the best backpacking trails within the nation, each well-known and comparatively obscure.
The 93-mile Wonderland Path (lead photograph at high of story) round Washington’s 14,410-foot Mount Rainier belongs on any listing of America’s best backpacking trips—for the numerous, jarring views of probably the most closely glaciated peak within the Decrease 48, among the most stunning wildflower meadows you’ll ever see, quite a few waterfalls and cascades, raging rivers grey with “glacial flour,” and sightings of mountain goats, marmots, and black bears.
See my tales about my backpacking trip on what I contemplate the perfect sections of the Wonderland, “5 Reasons You Must Backpack Mount Rainier’s Wonderland Trail,” and my knowledgeable e-guide “The Complete Guide to Backpacking the Wonderland Trail in Mount Rainier National Park.”
The 41-mile Timberline Path round Oregon’s Mount Hood rivals the Wonderland for wildflowers, waterfalls, and surroundings, together with frequent views of 11,239-foot Mount Hood. The Timberline additionally serves up challenges like doubtlessly edgy creek fords—and it requires lower than half the time of mountain climbing the complete Wonderland, with no allow issues. See my story “Full of Surprises: Backpacking Mount Hood’s Timberline Trail.”
Try these three different very worthy Cascades backpacking journeys:
• The gorgeous and adventurous, 44-mile Spider Gap-Buck Creek Pass loop in Washington’s Glacier Peak Wilderness.
• A 44-mile loop within the sprawling Pasayten Wilderness, combining the Pacific Crest Path and more-remote and lonely trails with equally nice surroundings.
• And an 80-mile hike, with shorter variations, that delivers a stellar tour of North Cascades Nationwide Park.
I may also help you propose any journey you examine at my weblog. Discover out extra here.
Southern Utah
The nationwide parks and different wildlands of southern Utah defend among the best dayhikes and backpacking trips in America—interval. However amongst all of the multi-day hikes on the backside of Utah, 4 stand head and shoulders above the remaining: the Needles and Maze districts of Canyonlands Nationwide Park, Paria Canyon, and Zion’s Narrows.
Within the extra user-friendly Needles District of Canyonlands Nationwide Park, stratified cliffs stretch for miles and trails zigzag throughout waves of slickrock slabs beneath multi-colored sandstone candlesticks rising 300 toes tall. Throughout the Inexperienced River, within the Maze District, trails lead from overlooks of an enormous, chaotic sweep of sandstone fins, towers, and canyons to circuitous routes by means of canyons that would solely be known as the Maze. With very rugged mountain climbing by means of a hard-to-reach nook of the Southwest the place water sources typically dry up seasonally, the Maze is certainly laborious—and a holy grail for severe Southwest backpackers.
Well-known amongst backpackers for its towering partitions of orange-red sandstone painted wildly with desert varnish and illuminated by mirrored daylight, hanging gardens the place springs pour from rock, and campsites on sandy benches shaded by cottonwood timber, Paria Canyon is a must-do journey amplified by pockets of quicksand. Hike it high to backside or mixed with its 15-mile-long tributary slot canyon, Buckskin Gulch—which will get so tight that you should take off your pack and squeeze by means of sideways.
The Narrows of Zion Nationwide Park definitely ranks amongst America’s high 10 backpacking journeys and the best in the Southwest. A lot of the magic lies in seeing it change as you actually stroll deeper into the earth, splashing down the river by means of deeply shaded, tight passages and seeing springs gush from strong rock, creating lush desert oases. Backpack the 14-mile route from high to backside, spending an evening within the canyon to savor the solitude of a night beneath partitions that soar 1,000 toes tall and a slice of black sky bursting with stars.
See my tales “No Straight Lines: Backpacking and Hiking in Canyonlands and Arches National Parks,” “Farther Than It Looks—Backpacking the Canyonlands Maze,” “The Quicksand Chronicles: Backpacking Paria Canyon,” and “Luck of the Draw, Part 2: Backpacking Zion’s Narrows” and my e-guide “The Complete Guide to Backpacking the Narrows in Zion National Park.”
Discover the perfect of the Southwest. See “The 12 Best Hikes in Utah’s National Parks”
and “The 10 Best Backpacking Trips in the Southwest.”
Glacier Nationwide Park
Few wild lands encourage emotions of awe as typically and as intensely as Glacier. Apart from nearly fixed views of mountains not like any in America, on many multi-day hikes in Glacier you will notice rivers of ice pouring off of craggy mountains and cliffs, among the greater than 760 lakes, and sometimes mountain goats, bighorn sheep, elk, moose—probably even just a few grizzly and black bears: I’ve seen bears on each backpacking journey I’ve taken there.
These hikes have included what I contemplate the best backpacking trip in Glacier in addition to a 94-mile, north-to-south traverse of the park, combining the first Continental Divide Path route by means of Glacier and my hand-picked variations off it to hit what I consider comprise the park’s best areas.
See my tales “Descending the Food Chain: Backpacking Glacier National Park’s Northern Loop” and “Wildness All Around You: Backpacking the CDT Through Glacier” in regards to the two longer hikes referenced above, and my tales “Jagged Peaks, Mountain Lakes, and Wild Goats: A 3-Day Hike on Glacier’s Gunsight Pass Trail” a few household backpacking journey when our children have been younger and “The 8 Best Long Hikes in Glacier National Park.”
Plan your subsequent nice backpacking journey on the Teton Crest Path, Wonderland Path, in Glacier, Yosemite or different parks utilizing my expert e-guides.
Yellowstone’s Bechler Canyon
If each American ought to go to Yellowstone Nationwide Park—and each American ought to—those that lengthy to discover its distinctive and wealthy backcountry ought to embark on the park’s greatest backpacking journey, by means of Bechler Canyon. Mountaineering for miles alongside the Bechler River Path, beside a five-star trout stream, you’ll cross a number of thunderous waterfalls—together with 45-foot Iris Falls and Colonnade Falls, the place the Bechler River plunges 35 toes over an higher falls and one other 67 toes over a second drop.
The journey options bracing river fords—which pose little danger past chattering tooth (a pal and I made our journey’s final ford in robust, frigid wind and moist snow falling in late September)—doable sightings of bison, bears and different wildlife; the chance to discover Yellowstone’s largest backcountry geyser basin close to the shore of one of many park’s greatest backcountry lakes; and the icing on the cake: soaking in a pure scorching springs-fed pool known as Mr. Bubble.
See my story “In Hot (and Cold) Water: Backpacking Yellowstone’s Bechler Canyon” and all stories about Yellowstone National Park at The Huge Exterior.
Any journey goes higher with the fitting gear. See “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs”
and “The 10 Best Backpacking Tents.”
The Grand Canyon
What will be mentioned in regards to the Grand Canyon that hasn’t already been mentioned a thousand instances? What phrases can measure as much as the dimensions and majesty of this place—its infinite vistas, the misleading immensity of the canyon partitions and stone towers, the intimate facet canyons the place waterfalls pour by means of inexperienced gardens within the desert?
On this panorama of incomparable surroundings, multi-day hikes range from beginner-friendly to notoriously strenuous and difficult. Having ticked off among the canyon’s greatest multi-day hikes—South Kaibab to Lipan Point, together with the Escalante Route and Beamer Path, Hermits Rest to Bright Angel Trailhead, Grandview Point to South Kaibab Trailhead, the Thunder River-Deer Creek Loop, the New Hance Trail to Grandview Point, the Royal Arch Loop, and the Utah Flats Route and Clear Creek Trail—and hiked and run rim-to-rim-to-rim a number of instances in a day, I’m nonetheless scheming my subsequent journey there.
The canyon has no friends. Each backpacker ought to go there.
See my tales “7 Epic Grand Canyon Backpacking Trips You Must Do,” “How to Get a Permit to Backpack in the Grand Canyon,” and all stories about Grand Canyon backpacking trips at The Huge Exterior.
Do your Grand Canyon hike proper with these knowledgeable e-guides:
“The Best First Backpacking Trip in the Grand Canyon”
“The Best Backpacking Trip in the Grand Canyon”
“The Complete Guide to Hiking the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim.”
The Idaho Wilderness
Anybody following my weblog for very lengthy is aware of my affection for Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains—my yard wilderness. However central Idaho harbors almost 4 million extra acres of almost-contiguous wilderness past the 217,000 acres within the Sawtooths: the 1.3-million acre Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, which is bigger than many nationwide parks, together with Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and Glacier; and the almost 2.4-million-acre Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness (“the Frank”), largest within the Decrease 48 and greater than Yellowstone.
If this huge realm of mountains and canyons—divided by only one rural freeway and two distant dust roads—have been contained inside one nationwide park, it will be America’s third-largest.
A number of years in the past, I requested the Idaho Conservation League to assist me create a long-distance backpacking path by means of the state’s three signature wilderness areas. The result’s the 296-mile-long Idaho Wilderness Path, which crosses mountain passes over 9,000 toes and meanders beneath dramatic spires from the Bighorn Crags within the Frank to the Sawtooths. It follows three designated wild and scenic rivers, the Middle Fork of the Salmon, Principal Salmon, and the Selway, and traces the shores of innumerable alpine lakes.
It additionally traverses pristine lands which might be dwelling to mountain goats and bighorn sheep, elk and moose, black bears, a inhabitants of wolves estimated to be a minimum of seven instances bigger than that in Yellowstone—and that defend among the nation’s greatest remaining habitat within the Decrease 48 for restoring wild salmon.
Maybe most uniquely, the IWT presents the sort of solitude you merely can not discover on most long-distance trails. In actual fact, many backpackers have by no means even heard of the wilderness areas the path traverses.
See my tales “America’s Newest Long Trail: The Idaho Wilderness Trail” and “The Best Hikes and Backpacking Trips in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains,” my knowledgeable e-guide “The Best Backpacking Trip in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains,” and all stories about backpacking in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains at The Huge Exterior.
Which puffy must you purchase? See “The 10 Best Down Jackets”
and “How You Can Tell How Warm a Down Jacket Is.”
The Tetons
This listing wouldn’t really feel full with out Wyoming’s iconic Teton Vary. Pretty beginner-friendly when it comes to issue and navigation, a spot the place it’s possible you’ll stumble upon a marmot, moose, elk, or black or grizzly bear, and so continuously picturesque from the campsites to the excessive passes and huge fields of wildflowers that it nearly shocks the senses, these razor peaks by no means fail to dazzle.
I’ve returned to the Tetons greater than 20 instances over the previous three-plus many years, most just lately in August 2019, backpacking—once more—my favourite variation of the Teton Crest Path, universally thought-about one in every of the best backpacking trips in America. Two of my all-time favorite backcountry campsites lie alongside the TCT.
Whereas the Teton Crest Path captures the creativeness of most backpackers, any multi-day hike within the Tetons will rank among the many greatest hikes you’ve ever achieved. (Try “The Best Short Backpacking Trip in Grand Teton National Park.”)
See “The 5 Best Backpacking Trips in Grand Teton National Park,” “10 Great, Big Dayhikes in the Tetons,” all tales about backpacking the Teton Crest Trail at The Huge Exterior, and my e-guide “The Complete Guide to Backpacking the Teton Crest Trail in Grand Teton National Park,” which tells you the whole lot you have to know to plan and pull off that journey—together with methods to get one of the coveted and difficult-to-reserve backcountry permits within the Nationwide Park System.
I’ve helped many readers plan an unforgettable backpacking journey on the Teton Crest Path.
Need my assist with yours? Discover out extra here.
Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park
The Colorado Rockies, with 58 peaks that rise increased than 14,000 toes and one other whopping 637 that stand between 13,000 and 13,999 toes, have drawn hikers and mountain climbers like mice to peanut butter for many years. However for a lot of, the Colorado Rockies attain their scenic apex in Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park.
Whereas not almost as massive as different Western parks like Glacier or Yosemite, Rocky nonetheless presents some wonderful and comparatively beginner-friendly choices for multi-day hikes. I’ve backpacked there on either side of the Continental Divide, together with taking my children after they have been younger on a brief, three-day hike in Wild Basin, within the park’s southeast nook, south of the park’s tallest and most well-known mountain, 14,259-foot Longs Peak.
We camped our first night time beside a small creek the place the children performed for hours, and our second night time a brief stroll from the shore of beautiful Ouzel Lake, nestled in ponderosa pine forest at simply over 10,000 toes, beneath a placing wall of 12,000- and 13,000-foot peaks.
See my story about backpacking with my young kids in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Scroll by means of the All Trips List for a menu of tales at The Huge Exterior.
